They are pretty well-known and that's because they have well-paying affiliate programs, that's also why all those "the top 10 hosting" sites have listed them. I wouldnt' say that Godaddy is well-known as a hosting company, as a domain registrar for sure, but not as a hosting company.

I've used many different hosting companies over the years (some of them from the above list and some not) and I also see a lot of hosts when helping my clients with their websites. Without a doubt my favorite is definitely Hostgator._________________Learn how to build a successful internet business at http://trentbrownrigg.com